Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Tánaiste's new-found concern about borrowing the people's money to help them out. To go back to the issue of food security, I never suggested we would have such food shortages in Ireland. I said we would have food shortages in western Europe and that is going to lead to huge price increases in Ireland. Is there a plan for that. What I do not want, in 12 months time, is to see one section of the economy or society pitched against another, with people finding they are being priced out of basic food products and farmers saying they simply cannot produce the food for any less. Prices are rising but we know farmers in Ireland are very much at the mercy of multinationals and they are producing on a very tight margin. That is my concern There is a horrible precedent for Ireland producing a lot of food yet people not having food in Ireland. I want to know the Government is planning for that now to make sure that does not arise and we will not see food produced in Ireland being out of the reach of Irish consumers because of pressures on farmers. It is not that they are profiteering from this; very far from it.

I welcome the reality around Moneypoint.

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